Parrish said he’s ready to change his opinion. Calipari’s deal makes him the second-highest paid college coach behind Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. It’s also more than any NBA coach reportedly makes.

Now he has a deal similar to Saban’s, which guarantees the Crimson Tide coach $6.5 million a year through 2022. Caliapri’s new contract runs through 2021, paying him increasing values starting at more than $7 million a year.

“At this point, the two men’s careers feel inextricably intertwined,” wrote Fox Sports’ Reid Forgrave. “Each has turned his respective program into the measuring stick in his sport. Each is making big bucks, sure, but is also chasing something far greater and more lasting: a legacy to be known as one of the greatest ever.”

Forgrave went on to suggest that by the time Calipari is finished at UK, he’d have his own statue in Lexington.

But as the current coach? A statue? Well, Saban has one.

IN THE C-J

• See more on Calipari’s pay increase — his year-by-year returns and comments from the coach — from UK beat writer Kyle Tucker. (http://cjky.it/SAMLWL)

• Louisville’s baseball team is in a precarious position, writes columnist Adam Himmelsbach, now stuck between beating its arch rival and a chance at the College World Series (http://cjky.it/1kG3eV2). But U of L sees Kennessaw State as a challenge, because the Cardinals’ coach once was the underdog while leading The Citadel to the CWS (http://cjky.it/1uruVmY).

• The 6:52 p.m. Belmont Stakes sets up a doubleheader for fans who also plan to catch the 7 p.m. U of L Super Regional baseball game Saturday night. Churchill Downs will show the race on its Big Board for those seeking a double dip. (http://cjky.it/1per9v1)

AROUND THE WEB

• Local soccer supporters group “The Coopers” didn’t wait until the Louisville City Football Club’s logo design contest started to see some possibilities. The group started a Twitter timeline Thursday displaying entries tweeted with the #LCFClogo hashtag. (http://bit.ly/1kCOze7)

• U of L saw its highest-ever MLB draft selection Thursday evening when closer Nick Burdi went 46th to the Minnesota Twins. That should put in perspective what the Cardinals are up against in this weekend’s Super Regional. Kennesaw State catcher Max Pentecost went 11th to the Toronto Blue Jays. (http://on.thestar.com/1kCOuXV)

• U of L women’s basketball player Sara Hammond is in Europe this week playing for USA Basketball’s FIBA 3x3 World Championship team. The Americans are already 2-0 heading into Friday’s game against Brazil. See a full schedule and stats. (http://bit.ly/1mjuu8g)

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199; follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.